Premier Oil achieved first oil from the Solan field on April 12, 2016.

The Solan field, located in the UK sector of the North Sea, comprises two production wells and two injection wells along with a subsea oil storage tank. The tank can accommodate more than 400,000 barrels of oil under the sea.

The first production well (P1) is being naturally flowed at a deliberately restricted initial rate. It is planned that the well will remain free flowing for a short time after which the ESP (pump) will be turned on, the company explained.

Following this initial period and the availability of the Superior Flotel, over which Premier has contractual options until the end of May, the company intends to carry out a planned production shut down to complete the final commissioning of the water injection plant, the tie in of the second water injection well (W2) and preparation for the tie in of the second production well (P2).

The Ocean Valiant rig is currently drilling the second production well (P2y), where 1,500ft of high quality reservoir sands have been intersected and which is expected to be completed and tied-in by mid-year, Premier said.

Production from the field is expected to build up to an anticipated production rate of 20-25 kbeopd in the second half of 2016 when both pairs of production-injection wells will be on stream.